#iMagine · 2020-05-18 · #iMagine The Official Newsletter of the Alabama-Mississippi District...

#iMagine The Official Newsletter of the Alabama-Mississippi District

2019-2020 Number 5 May, 2020

GOVERNORCedie Kendall

662.719.2924

[email protected]

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Kathy White

901.497.3927

[email protected]

GOVERNOR ELECT

Alfred G. Adams502-541-6469

[email protected]

PAST IMMEDIATEGOVERNOR

Debbie Merritt

256.431.5725

[email protected]

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Judy Richardson

[email protected]

WEBMASTER

Todd Warren

601.201.9320

[email protected]

Governor Kendall’s Theme:

Kids — The Bridge to our Future

Hello Optimist Family!

Our year has turned into one not exactly likewe had planned. I have come to realize, however,that this may be exactly what we needed to help usexplore the digital opportunities available to usthrough OI. I know I have learned a lot aboutZOOM!! I’ve attended meetings with OI PresidentAdrian, watched Zone Oratorical contests, and attended several club meetings.Thanks to Bernice Jackson, Vera Hendrix, Janet Smith, Jeff Keener, andTeresa Gill for learning how to host ZOOM meetings!

Let me encourage you to work on President Adrian’s iMaginerewards– especially Re-iMagining Service. What a great time it would be toiMagine a new service project! Our local club in Cleveland purchased snack-pack cookies, candy bars, and freeze pops, tied an encouraging message alongwith Optimist Club information to them, and left in mailboxes of homes withchildren. They loved it! Everyone can find some small or large project that canbe accomplished while social distancing. When you do, please remember toshare with the district via our facebook page and email to the newsletter editorso it can be shared and celebrated. Include pictures! Also, to receive credit forthis award, you must complete a form regarding the project. You candownload this form from OI, or contact Governor Cedie and she can email itto you.

A great big thank you goes to all who have been so faithful to give tothe Foundation. Thank you to our persevering and faithful Foundation Rep,Nancy Boyd! To date, we are holding our First Place status, having nearlyreached our goal for the year. WOOHOO!!!

mailto:[email protected]



LT. GOVERNORS

ZONE 1

Janet N. Smith

205.492.5705

[email protected]

ZONE 2

Janet Stevenson

[email protected]

ZONE 3

VACANT

ZONE 4

Michael A. Hanshaw

334.324.9311

[email protected]

ZONE 5

Larry Lartique

251.583.6163

[email protected]

ZONE 6

Jeff Keener

859.991.4619

[email protected]

ZONE 7

Flora J. Wilson

601.268.0299

[email protected]

ZONE 8

Angela Yates

601.201.9322

[email protected]

ZONE 9

Mary M. Baker

601.260.8803

[email protected]

Our ever-persevering Childhood Cancer/ Health & Wellness Rep, DavidMills, has been hard at work raising money for this foundation as well. Let’s notneglect giving generously to this fund. Since we did not have 3rd quarter meeting,would you please consider making a monetary donation directly to the ChildhoodCancer/Health & Wellness Campaign? Possibly your club could host a fundraiserspecifically for this fund. You can send the monies directly to David at:

David Mills 7544 Pinnacle Court Montgomery, AL 36117

SAVE THE DATE!! JUNE 27-28, 2020!!!! OI VIRTUAL CONVENTION

Have you thought in the past, “I’d like to go to the convention, but I justcan’t do it this year”? Well for 2020, you have no excuse! OI is going virtual!Read on:

iMagine 2020, a Virtual Convention

We will miss seeing everyone in Chicagoland in person,however, this unfortunate situation has given us theopportunity to re-iMagine our International Convention. Joinus for this online event, June 27-28. Fees will be $25 for thefirst 500 registrants, with $35 thereafter. Further registrationinformation and complete schedules for will be available soon atwww.optimist.org/convention Junior Optimist International will also host its virtual convention at the same time.

If you registered for the Chicagoland event, we will be issuing refunds within thenext few weeks. Please make sure you cancel your hotel reservations!

One more thing before I close... Club Presidents, don’t forget to go onlineand vote for OI President Elect (James Adams) , Vice President Elect and BoardDirector at Large. Elections open online at 8 a.m. (CDT) on Friday, May 1 andcloses at 5 p.m. (CDT) Saturday, May 30. If you have questions, contact TomCarver at (800) 500-8130 ext. 243 or (314) 881-1343, or [email protected]. You can read the qualifications for James Adams onthe following page.

WE CAN FINISH STRONG!!

Governor Cedie Kendall#iMagine...kids the bridge to our future










http://www.optimist.org/convention

mailto:[email protected].

JAMES ADAMS PRESIDENT-ELECT

Current Optimist Club(s) Montgomery Central Optimist ClubBirmingham-West End Optimist ClubOther Optimist Clubs you belonged to in the past:Macon WestDate you first joined an Optimist Club:July 16, 1992Year(s) you were a Club President:2000-01; 2002-03; 2009-10Year(s) you were a Lieutenant Governor:2003-04Year(s) you were a District Governor:2005-06International Offices or positions you have held: Southeast Region Vice President, 2015-16Membership Committee member, 2017-18, 2018-19Governance Committee member, 2019-20Optimist Awards achieved: Honor Club President, Montgomery Central, 2000-01Distinguished Governor, AL-MS District, 2005-06Builder of Excellence, Macon West Optimist Club, 2009

What are your primary qualifications for this office? I have served a complete term as a Governor of a District (2005-06). I have served as the District Chair FoundationRepresentative, 2007-08, 2010-11. I have also served as the District Chair for the Oratorical Contest, 2008-09; CandidateQualification, 2008-09; OI Convention, 2011-12; Youth Chair, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18; LeadershipDevelopment, 2018-19. I have served on the International level as a Regional Vice President (2015-16), on severalcommittees and have received valuable leadership training while attending the last 15 Optimist InternationalConventions. Why should a Club vote for you? Because it would be an honor to work for an organization that has been established for 101 years. The members ofOptimist International are unique in that we focus on serving youth, and yet we have a variety of ways of thinking anddoing things. This helps us continue to look forward to the path that we must go for the greater good of OptimistInternational. It would also be an honor to serve the members of Optimist International as we find the path that wouldenhance Optimist International in fulfilling its mission, and continuing to be a great service organization that otherswould want to join. What specific things will you do to help Clubs and Districts in your Region? I would work to help the Clubs, members and Optimist International develop a closer service relationship. This wouldinclude, but not be limited to, using the tools of communication to have a more focused and direct impact with Clubpresidents and Club members. I would work to help OI continue to identify and provide leadership development for ourfuture leaders. I would work with the Board as it continues to exercise a fiduciary responsibility in actions discussedand/or approved for OI.Anything else you would like to say to Clubs. All nations of the world, as well as all of us in Optimist International, have been affected by the COVID-19 situation. Wehave concerns for our families, friends, communities and our organization. Our Clubs have been affected as well as everyother aspect of our lives. What will our world be after this crisis slows down and, hopefully, ends?For Optimist International, it will be a new journey in how we carry out our mission. For the Clubs and Members, newways would have to be implemented in how we provide service to our youth, our members, and our communities. Do wehave all the answers now? No, we do not. But with the strong Optimist spirit that exists in our organization, together, wewill go down this path and find the way, so that when we say the tenets of our creed, there will be a heartfelt appreciationfor one another and our organization.

AL-MS District Second Quarter Achievement and Awards

The Achievement and Awards (A&A) Program is an excellent way to share with the District the great projects andprograms your club is doing to help Kids Build the Bridge to Our Future. The chart below is the second quarter A&A ( Jan. 1- Mar. 31) awards.

OVERALLAWARDS CLUBS ZONEGOLD (1st) Huntsville 3SILVER (2nd) Birmingham 1BRONZE (3rd) Central Montgomery 4

Category 1 (20 or fewer members on 1 Oct)GOLD (1st) Metro Tuscaloosa 1SILVER (2nd) NoneBRONZE (3rd) None

Category 2 (21 to 40 Members on 1 Oct)GOLD (1st) Huntsville Evening 3SILVER (2nd) Hernando 9BRONZE (3rd) Cleveland 9

Category 3 (41 or more members on 1 Oct)GOLD (1st) Huntsville 3SILVER (2nd) Birmingham 1BRONZE (3rd) Central Montgomery 4

Zones and Lt. GovernorsGOLD (1st) 3 Ester A. StubbsSILVER (2nd) 1 Janet N. SmithBRONZE (3rd) 9 Mary M. Baker

The third quarter (1 Apr – 30 June) AL-MS District A&A Report deadline due date to the A&AChair is 15 July. Please send your report to:Mail: Ester Stubbs129 River Meadow WayHuntsville AL 35811 orEmail: [email protected]

WE HAVE A WINNER!!Our ESSAY winner for 2019-2020 Optimist Year is Galey Patricia McKelvain. Galey was sponsored byEastern Shore Optimist Club. Way to go Galey!!

Oratorical Contests:Regional contest - May 16 (If you would like to be invited to watch via ZOOM, contact the appropriatechairperson.)

Region 1, Chair Norma Stewart, 10:00AMRegion 2, Chair Jeanie Ward, 12:00 noonRegion 3, Chair Sunny Fridge, 2:00 PM

District Contest - May 30


Shout Outs & Bragging Rights:

Wise words from Jacob Ransom, Newsletter Editor of Optimist Club of Birmingham West-End:The Coronavirus has had a negative impact on many areas of our daily living. In spite of the negative

aspects, it is the newsletter editor’s view that it has also brought about some positive elements that may endurelong after the virus:

-Concern for the well-being of others.-Closer interaction with family members.-Considerate spending.-Greater focus on personal health.-Ability to adjust to and cope with a difficult situation.-More patience and tolerance.

Jacob also had this to say:During this time of business closures, quarantines, wearing of protective apparel, and social distancing,

it is perhaps the most important time in our lives to display Optimism. So, take a look at the Optimist Creed andreaffirm your belief in and daily living of the creed. Perhaps it can help us to get through this time. Thiscertainly is a time when club members can rely on their faith belief and to practically apply religious teachingsby anticipating a brighter future, uplifting the spirit of others, and providing assistance where needed.WELL SAID, JACOB!

Members from the Optimist Club ofCleveland, MS, could be seen sharing a little cheer andoptimism earlier this month. Joyce Barnes delivered over 200cheerful “Thinking of You” cards, signed by Optimistmembers, to local nursing home residents. Judy Richardsonand Nancy Boyd left encouraging notes and Optimist Clubinformation in mailboxes for children (and their parents.)

Midtown Mobile Optimist Club:We are having a raffle of Alabama Football Tickets. We raffle off two prizes: Prize (#1) Two tickets to allAlabama Football Home Games (Georgia State, Georgia, Kent State, Mississippi State, UT-Martin, TexasA&M, Auburn) and Prize (#2) – Two tickets to the LSU vs. Alabama Football Game in Baton Rouge. The raffle tickets sell for $20 each, or 3 for $50 or 7 for $100. Five hundred tickets are printed. Thesetickets are in the lettermen section of the lower deck so very nicely positioned seats. Now aren’t we trueOptimists to be having a fundraiser not knowing if there is even going to be a game.

Any Optimists who might want to purchase tickets please send a check to Midtown Optimist Club, C/OErnest Rogers, 24 Felder Place, Mobile, AL 36606 and I will send the raffle tickets back. We hope tomeet again next Wednesday for the first time since March 15th. We had started a High School BaseballAwards Program before the virus halted us after one awards program. We had Bernie Carbo as our

guest presenter that week. God bless, __Ernest Rogers

Shoals Optimist Club begins our annual Flag Display Program Memorial Day!This is our main fund raiser each year. Flag Chairman Johnny Morrow & his family havebeen working hard replacing & repairing flags for display in community.

Pam Gargis Shoals Optimist Club

Optimist Club, Hernando, MSA’Fair in Hernando Fundraiser conducted by the Optimist Clubof Hernando had to be postponed due to COVID 19 restrictions.However, club members are still preparing for A’Fair wheneverit takes place.

Each year the Optimist Club of

Hernando sponsors the Art in the Park

Contest conducted by the Hernando

Parks and Recreation Department. Art

supplies are provided to the winners in

each age group.

Kathy White from the Optimist Club of Hernando spoke

at a meeting of Excel by Five in Hernando. The club has

provided support for this program for several years. This

program is associated with the Dolly Pardon Imagination

Library providing books to children up to age 5. The

Optimist Club also provided a meal for this program.

iMagine Awards... Part 3

How is your club coming on achieving the incentives given by President Elcock?

� Retention Award - We will measure the retention at the Club and the District levels and the cumulative

highest retention at the end of the year will be the metric for the Retention Award.

�iMagination Award - If a Club is successful in completing the requirements of the: Like and Share Moment,

Making a Difference Member, Retention Award, Pacesetter Engagement, Recruitment and re-iMagining Service

challenges, they will be awarded a personalized glass pillar award, as a pillar of excellence example to the

Optimist community.

RETENTION IS AS VALUABLE AS RECRUITING

Adding new members to your club is a great thing. New members bring energy, new ideas, enthusiasm and

more hands to lighten the workload. However, every new member added to your club will not help your

membership grow stronger if you are losing existing members. Below are a few retention ideas:

1. Find duties for all members so they feel like they are part of the team. Try to personalize each person’s job to

meet their personality.

2. Assign new members to active committees that meet their interests or give them tasks of their own choosing.

These should be duties that allow them to make a meaningful contribution to the club.

3. Rotate committee members every year for different projects with specific job responsibilities. This

encourages members to become more active and increases their knowledge of Optimism.

4. Send a survey to members annually to get their thoughts on how the club is doing. Form a committee to

address negative responses. Make sure to reach out to those members who do not respond to get their feedback.

5. Contact members who have left the club to find out their reasons for leaving, what they liked about being a

member and what areas of the club need improvement. Discuss what can be done to get them to come back or

become a Friend of Optimists.

6. Host events that include member’s families throughout the year.

7. Offer educational events and leadership training as part of regular meetings or in special workshops.

8. Organize community service projects that can be completed in a short amount of time. Provide opportunities

for members to gather, perform service, socialize and foster fellowship.

9. If a member is absent from three consecutive meetings without providing a reason, select someone to contact

that person and find out their reason for missing the meetings. If the member has a complaint or issue, the club

should take action to correct the situation and retain the member.

10. Create and distribute a calendar that reminds members about scheduled meeting and programs. Print the

meeting schedule in your club’s newsletter and post it on the club’s website.

11. Work with another club on a service project to expand networking opportunities, community contacts and

fellowship.

12. Encourage members to attend District conferences and the International Convention to broaden the scope of

their involvement.

Optimist International Foundation

To date, Alabama-Mississippi District is STILL #1 in fundraising for the

Foundation with over $20,000.00 raised. Every member can be a Dime-a-Day

member. Presidents and Club Foundation Reps, help your members understand how

important their $36.50 a year is to the Foundation. Tell them where the money goes,

how it is used, and how many children can be served by their gift. Remind them it is

tax deductible! Encourage your club to be 100% Dime a Day members.

ZOOM! ZOOM? ZOOM.

Zoom has a whole new meaning in this technological age. And if we are going to keep up, we better learn howto ZOOM. Below are learning schedules through the end of May. If you have not already become a part of theZOOM World, join one of the meetings and learn how to ... ====ZOOM====

Zoom for Beginners

1 p.m.- Sunday, May 17- by Becky Mahoney

7 p.m.- Monday, May 18- by Diane Siefkes

1 p.m.-Wednesday, May 20-by Becky Mahoney

9 p.m.-Thursday, May 21- by Gregg Palmer

1 p.m.-Saturday, May 23- by Diane Siefkes

2 p.m.-Sunday, May 24- by Diane Siefkes

12 noon -Tuesday, May 26-Teri Davis

3 p.m.-Friday, May 29-by Teri Davis

7 p.m.-Saturday, May 30- by Gregg Palmer

How to Host a Zoom Meeting

6p.m.-Monday, May 18-by Bonnie Jean Sherbert

2 p.m.-Tuesday, May 19-by Tracy Huxley.

6 p.m-Wednesday, May 20-by Bonnie Jean Sherbert

7 p.m.-Tuesday, May 26-by Tracy Huxley

6 p.m-Wednesday, May 27-by Bonnie Jean Sherbert

3 p.m.-Thursday, May 28-by Teri Davis.

6 p.m.-Thursday, May 28-by Theresa Jarratt.

3 p.m.-Sunday, May 31-by Theresa Jarratt.

UPCOMING CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

4th QTR Convention - August 20-23, 2020

Cleveland, MS or Southaven, MS

Hotel: TBA

Thank you all for your thoughts,

phone calls, emails, cards and

Prayers with the passing of my

Mother Louise Marks from this

earth to her heavenly home!!

May God Bless you ~~ Pam Marks Gargis

Shoals Optimist Club

WEBINARS

June 22 Just Ask... for membership growth andretention strategy- a great way to getmore hands to SERVE more children

June 27-28 OI Virtual Convention

July - NO WEBINAR SCHEDULED

August 17 The Professional Growth andInvolvement Program (PGI) - How toStart your Journey... promote, explain,and encourage members to participatein the attainment of various levels ofaccomplishment

September 21 Making Sure that the Club Paperwork isDone!...your club has worked hard allyear...make sure the paperwork hasbeen completed!

Have You Heard?

Online Officer Registration

As of March 1, Optimist Clubs can register their 2020-21 officers online. A current officer must login towww.optimist.org and click on “Reports”. Scroll down, and on the right side of the screen, you will see “ClubOfficer Elect Report,” and click on “Report”. You will be able to select the names of the Club Members whowill be filling the leadership roles during the Optimist 2020-21 year. If you have questions or need assistance,contact Charlotte Baker at Member Services at [email protected].

This from OI:

Dear Club Officer,

We are sending this message to inform you that all Club Bylaws must be updated to include newmandatory language that was approved by the OI Board of Directors. This language helps us keep theinsurance coverage that we offer Clubs at a reasonable rate so that we don’t need to ask for a dues increaseat this time.

Your Club will find the new Bylaws on the Optimist Leaders portion of the Optimist website after youhave logged-in under the Reports tab and midway down the page. If you used the fill-able online version ofthe Club Bylaws, you will be able to see your most previous version to use as a reference. If you mailed orfaxed your Club bylaws to us, a previous version will not be available to you online. However, you will beable to access and print a full version of the new Club Bylaws so that you will be able to update your ownClub bylaws. As with previous versions, all bolded text is mandatory.

We would like for Clubs to have this completed by August 15, 2020. If you have any questions, pleasecontact us at [email protected].

Thank you for helping us remain in compliance with insurance regulations.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Monschein Sr. Director of Leadership Development & Club Support

It's time to learn

Our new Learning Management System(LMS) launched May 4. This will make it easier for Clubs, Officers andOptimist Members to participate in training and educational programs.

To start this project, each Club will have one account. This will require your Club President to establish a Gmailaccount that is specifically for the LMS. If you have not done so already, please create a Gmail account for yourClub. You should create an email address like the following: oc(Club number)@gmail.com.

Example: [email protected]. If it states that the username is already taken, please create any Gmail account,and send it to Michelle Turner along with your Club number.

After doing so, inform Michelle Turner of your Club's address at [email protected]. (You needto do this from your newly created G-mail account.) Michelle will send you step by step instructions to access theLMS website.

http://www.optimist.org

mailto:[email protected].

THE OPTIMIST CREEDPromise Yourself–

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence oftrouble.

Optimist International

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